Gservo
27th January 2003, 03:52 PM
==== COMMENTARY ====
(contributed by John Savill, FAQ Editor, jsavill@winnetmag.com)
This week, I tell you what's new in Windows Media Player (WMP) 9, explain how to enable WMP 9's Mini-Player mode, and describe what's in Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Feature Pack 1. I also explain how to create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup, how to restore an ASR backup, and how to specify which disk-error-checking utility you want to use in Windows 2000 and later.
Around the industry this week, Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2003 will contain a locked-down version of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) and that the OS will ship with sound disabled by default. Visual Studio .NET 2003 should be available by the end of February, and a new Outlook 2002 update is available at http://office.microsoft.com .
On the storage front, Western Digital announced new 80GB-platter technology that lets the company produce 250GB hard disks. The new drives are available now. Finally, Microsoft has released a patch for Windows XP to prevent disk corruption when you enter standby or hibernation mode. The patch is available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=b997cc5f-4483-4edc-a17e-6f659a033b0d&displaylang=en .
FAQS
Q. What's new in Windows Media Player (WMP) 9?
Q. How can I enable the Windows Media Player (WMP) 9 Mini-Player mode?
Q. What'ss the Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Feature Pack 1?
Q. How can I create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup?
Q. How can I restore my system by using an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup?
Q. How can I specify which disk-error-checking utility I want to use in Windows 2000 and later?
==== FAQS ====
Q. What's new in Windows Media Player (WMP) 9?
A. Microsoft released WMP 9 on January 7, 2003. You can download the software at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
(the downloadable file is fewer than 10MB). WMP 9 is available for Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, and Windows 98 Second Edition (Win98SE). The software will also form part of the core Windows Server 2003 release.
WMP 9's new features include
- a new Mini-Player mode that runs as part of the Windows taskbar
- a new "Queue-It-Up" button that automatically adds selected media to the current play list
- new cross-fade and auto volume leveling controls for budding DJs
- audio and video speed controls separate from the pitch control
- improved deployment options
--------------------
Q. How can I enable the Windows Media Player (WMP) 9 Mini-Player mode?
A. WMP 9 includes a Mini-Player mode that runs on the Windows taskbar. To enable WMP in Mini-Player mode, perform the following steps:
1. Right-click an unused space on the taskbar.
2. Select Windows Media Player from the toolbar context menu.
Windows will add a new blank space on the taskbar for the set of controls that will appear when you minimize WMP. When WMP is in Mini-Player mode, you can restore the regular WMP interface by clicking the bottom-right icon on the docked WMP control set.
--------------------
Q. What's the Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Feature Pack 1?
A. In keeping with its policy not to include new features in service packs, Microsoft has released an ISA Server Feature Pack 1, which is available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/featurepack1/download.asp . The basic additions are
- an enhanced SMTP filter
- an enhanced Microsoft Exchange Server remote procedure call (RPC) filter (RPC encryption and outbound RPC)
- an RPC filter configuration wizard
- URLScan 2.5 for ISA Server
- Web authentication for RSA Security's RSA SecurID
- basic authentication delegation
- a Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) wizard
- a link translator
- sample scenarios and documentation for several completed common tasks
A more complete description of the feature pack is available at http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/featurepack1/download.asp .
--------------------
Q. How can I create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup?
A. Windows XP includes a new backup option known as ASR to create a backup set that you can use to automatically restore Windows after a system crash. I recommend that you use this backup option to regularly create up-to-date ASR sets.
The ASR backup consists of a backup of the system files that ASR requires for Windows to function and a 3.5" disk that contains information about your system that ASR requires to start the restore process. The ASR backup doesn't back up data files, so you need to back them up separately.
To create an ASR backup, perform the following steps:
1. Start NTBackup (go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup).
2. When the wizard version of NTBackup starts, click Advanced Mode.
3. From the Tools menu, select ASR Wizard, then click Next on the introduction screen.
4. Select a destination for the backup.
5. Click Finish to begin the ASR backup process.
6. When prompted, insert a blank 3.5" disk to back up your system settings.
--------------------
Q. How can I restore my system by using an Automated System Recovery
(ASR) backup?
A. If you experience a core-OS corruption in Windows XP and you've created an ASR backup, you can use the ASR backup to restore your system by performing the following steps:
1. Boot from your original XP media.
2. If prompted, press a key to boot the system from the CD-ROM.
3. During the text mode portion of setup, press F2 to initiate an ASR restore.
4. When prompted, insert the ASR 3.5" backup disk and follow the onscreen instructions.
--------------------
Q. How can I specify which disk-error-checking utility I want to use in Windows 2000 and later?
A. In a previous FAQ
( http://www.windows2000faq.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=37560 ), I explained how to specify which utilities you want to use for disk cleanup, backup, and disk defragmentation. To change the utility you want to use for disk error checking, perform the following steps:
1. Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\MyComputer
registry subkey.
3. From the Edit menu, select New, Key.
4. Enter the name ChkDskPath, then press Enter.
5. Navigate to the new key, double-click its (Default) value, change the value to reflect the path of the program you want to use, then click OK.
6. Close the registry editor.
(contributed by John Savill, FAQ Editor, jsavill@winnetmag.com)
This week, I tell you what's new in Windows Media Player (WMP) 9, explain how to enable WMP 9's Mini-Player mode, and describe what's in Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Feature Pack 1. I also explain how to create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup, how to restore an ASR backup, and how to specify which disk-error-checking utility you want to use in Windows 2000 and later.
Around the industry this week, Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2003 will contain a locked-down version of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) and that the OS will ship with sound disabled by default. Visual Studio .NET 2003 should be available by the end of February, and a new Outlook 2002 update is available at http://office.microsoft.com .
On the storage front, Western Digital announced new 80GB-platter technology that lets the company produce 250GB hard disks. The new drives are available now. Finally, Microsoft has released a patch for Windows XP to prevent disk corruption when you enter standby or hibernation mode. The patch is available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=b997cc5f-4483-4edc-a17e-6f659a033b0d&displaylang=en .
FAQS
Q. What's new in Windows Media Player (WMP) 9?
Q. How can I enable the Windows Media Player (WMP) 9 Mini-Player mode?
Q. What'ss the Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Feature Pack 1?
Q. How can I create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup?
Q. How can I restore my system by using an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup?
Q. How can I specify which disk-error-checking utility I want to use in Windows 2000 and later?
==== FAQS ====
Q. What's new in Windows Media Player (WMP) 9?
A. Microsoft released WMP 9 on January 7, 2003. You can download the software at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
(the downloadable file is fewer than 10MB). WMP 9 is available for Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, and Windows 98 Second Edition (Win98SE). The software will also form part of the core Windows Server 2003 release.
WMP 9's new features include
- a new Mini-Player mode that runs as part of the Windows taskbar
- a new "Queue-It-Up" button that automatically adds selected media to the current play list
- new cross-fade and auto volume leveling controls for budding DJs
- audio and video speed controls separate from the pitch control
- improved deployment options
--------------------
Q. How can I enable the Windows Media Player (WMP) 9 Mini-Player mode?
A. WMP 9 includes a Mini-Player mode that runs on the Windows taskbar. To enable WMP in Mini-Player mode, perform the following steps:
1. Right-click an unused space on the taskbar.
2. Select Windows Media Player from the toolbar context menu.
Windows will add a new blank space on the taskbar for the set of controls that will appear when you minimize WMP. When WMP is in Mini-Player mode, you can restore the regular WMP interface by clicking the bottom-right icon on the docked WMP control set.
--------------------
Q. What's the Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Feature Pack 1?
A. In keeping with its policy not to include new features in service packs, Microsoft has released an ISA Server Feature Pack 1, which is available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/featurepack1/download.asp . The basic additions are
- an enhanced SMTP filter
- an enhanced Microsoft Exchange Server remote procedure call (RPC) filter (RPC encryption and outbound RPC)
- an RPC filter configuration wizard
- URLScan 2.5 for ISA Server
- Web authentication for RSA Security's RSA SecurID
- basic authentication delegation
- a Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) wizard
- a link translator
- sample scenarios and documentation for several completed common tasks
A more complete description of the feature pack is available at http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/featurepack1/download.asp .
--------------------
Q. How can I create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup?
A. Windows XP includes a new backup option known as ASR to create a backup set that you can use to automatically restore Windows after a system crash. I recommend that you use this backup option to regularly create up-to-date ASR sets.
The ASR backup consists of a backup of the system files that ASR requires for Windows to function and a 3.5" disk that contains information about your system that ASR requires to start the restore process. The ASR backup doesn't back up data files, so you need to back them up separately.
To create an ASR backup, perform the following steps:
1. Start NTBackup (go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup).
2. When the wizard version of NTBackup starts, click Advanced Mode.
3. From the Tools menu, select ASR Wizard, then click Next on the introduction screen.
4. Select a destination for the backup.
5. Click Finish to begin the ASR backup process.
6. When prompted, insert a blank 3.5" disk to back up your system settings.
--------------------
Q. How can I restore my system by using an Automated System Recovery
(ASR) backup?
A. If you experience a core-OS corruption in Windows XP and you've created an ASR backup, you can use the ASR backup to restore your system by performing the following steps:
1. Boot from your original XP media.
2. If prompted, press a key to boot the system from the CD-ROM.
3. During the text mode portion of setup, press F2 to initiate an ASR restore.
4. When prompted, insert the ASR 3.5" backup disk and follow the onscreen instructions.
--------------------
Q. How can I specify which disk-error-checking utility I want to use in Windows 2000 and later?
A. In a previous FAQ
( http://www.windows2000faq.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=37560 ), I explained how to specify which utilities you want to use for disk cleanup, backup, and disk defragmentation. To change the utility you want to use for disk error checking, perform the following steps:
1. Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\MyComputer
registry subkey.
3. From the Edit menu, select New, Key.
4. Enter the name ChkDskPath, then press Enter.
5. Navigate to the new key, double-click its (Default) value, change the value to reflect the path of the program you want to use, then click OK.
6. Close the registry editor.